Top `Knight’ Suraj Narredu, who is enjoying a dream run this winter recorded a nourishing double, partnering the Sulaiman Attaollahi schooled Cerise Noir in the plum event, the Dr. M A M Ramaswamy Memorial Trophy after guiding home Cherokee Moon in the lower division of the Dariya Daulat Plate on Saturday.  Cerise Noir in the feature was available at (3/1) while Cherokee Run was offered at (4/1), Realia from trainer Prasanna Kumar’s yard attracting maximum support.

The on-money favourite piloted by leading pro Trevor Patel found the winner too hot to handle and had to rest content with the runner-up berth much to the disappointment of his supporters who were `moral’ on the Prasanna Kumar ward. Anne Boleyn from the stables of Dominic did well to finish third suggesting that she is now ready to earn her corn bill.

Psychic Warrior was the top fancy in the main event. The well supported favourite from trainer Dheeraj’s yard like Realia failed to justify favouritism and had to settle for the second spot behind Cerise Noir who proved good on this day. The solitary length loss should not dampen the spirits of the favourite who looks good to score when saddled next. The same cannot be mentioned in the case of Silver Ikon, who despite finishing a creditable third, in my opinion will take time to enter the winners’ circle.

Neil Darashah, who led in two winners struck through Cool Rider in the opening event. The goodtype of youngster competing in the Flashing Star Plate had his share of followers in the three-cornered juvenile event which evoked good interest among the railbirds. Perfect Empress from the stables of Satish Narredu closed first favourite while Cool Rider and the Sulaiman trainee Moon’s Blessing were also in contention, the latter tipped strongly by the many track reporters who were convinced that the Sulaiman youngster on the strength of her blazing performances in the morning trials would be hard to down. All that the much fancied filly did was finish a tame fourth while Cool Rider comfortably got the measure of the favourite Perfect Empress.

Hawking from trainer Kishan Thomas’ yard dropped the biggest bombshell in the next event, the Hassan Plate returning a fabulous dividend, Rs 338 on a tenner at the tote window. The winner piloted by Arvind Kumar upset the applecart of the second in demand at the betting ring, Prime Star and the strongly fancied public choice Happy Dancing from the stables of Samar Singh.

On the strength of his fine showing in his last essay, Anakin was touted a safe bet in the eight-event card. The Pradeep Annaiah ward competing in the Kalinadi Plate met a tartar in Celestial Highway from Neil Darashah’s yard who was quietly fancied by the insiders and the right connections. Celestial Highway piloted by Nazerul Alam to the delight of the Neil camp gained the day and is set to provide an encore. Anakin simply met one better and will make amends next time out.

The Padmanabhan schooled Crack Of Dawn was top of the betting board in the principal added attraction, the Kempe Gowda Cup. Silver Dew from Ganapathy’s yard and the Prasanna Kumar-trained Harbour Sunrise fancied their chances too and at the end it was the grey from Ganapathy’s yard who reigned supreme in the hands of Darshan. Good Time Indeed surprised most while gaining the runner-up berth. The Pradeep ward paid a handsome dividend of Rs 440 on a tenner on second horse pool (SHP) while Rs 104 on place. Harbour Sunrise finished third and it will not be long before he makes his presence felt in the weeks ahead. Crack Of Dawn performed below par and eventually failed to even make the frame.

Livisilla brought the smile back on the face of Padmanabhan winning the Chamundi Hill Plate with a measure of comfort from the well fancied Garamond and Redoutable, who finished a poor fifth. The winner broke the ice for her owner Chandrashekar Rai, who was not enjoying the rub of the green on a couple of well fancied contestants earlier this season. Livisilla holds promise of bigger things and it will pay to follow this filly over a mile and beyond trips after her mile success. Garamond finished second ahead of Royal Blossom

In the concluding event, Golden Vision on his impressive last effort was the obvious choice and the punters, both big and small invested big, doubling their normal units. The heavily backed even-money favourite after raising hopes at the top of the straight quickly went out of gas like a pricked balloon and the last start winner First Impression it was who recorded his second straight victory in the hands of leading pro Akshay Kumar. The topweighted Lagopus caught the eye while making all the running before the Prasanna Kumar-trained First Impression unleashed a winning gallop in the final furlong.